The Magic Circle

By Donna Jo Napoli,

Book cover of The Magic Circle

Book description

From the author of Zel, Stones in Water, and The Prince of the Pond.
 
Deep in the woods lives the old witch called Ugly One. All she wants is to forget—the she was once a loving mother and a healer, blessed and powerful within her magic circle, and not a…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Magic Circle as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The Magic Circle is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel from the witch’s point of view. (I absolutely adore all of Donna Jo Napoli’s fairy tale retellings, so it was hard to pick just one!) I love how she is able to take an evil character from the original fairy tale and completely humanize her, writing her backstory and making her so sympathetic that by the time we get to that fateful scene with the oven, I was in tears. Not only are the characters brilliantly drawn, but the book is set in Medieval Europe and meticulously researched, bringing this…

If you love The Magic Circle...

Ad

Book cover of Wand

Wand by Landra Jennings,

Eleven-year-old Mira wishes everything could go back to the way it was. Before she changed schools and had to quit gymnastics. Especially before Papa died. Now she spends her days cooking and cleaning for her stepsisters and Val—who she still won’t call mom and still won’t forgive for the terrible…

Want books like The Magic Circle?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 76 books like The Magic Circle.

Browse books like The Magic Circle

Book cover of A Little Princess
Book cover of A Tale Dark & Grimm
Book cover of Splendors and Glooms

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,759

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in witches, fairy tales, and magic-supernatural?

Witches 146 books
Fairy Tales 314 books
Magic-Supernatural 672 books